Someone Commits Suicide Every 40 Seconds

CRISIS

Updated Apr. 14, 2017 3:03PM ET / Published Sep. 04, 2014 2:03PM ET

Every 40 seconds, a death by suicide occurs somewhere in the world, according to a global report from the World Health Organization which calls for more prevention strategies. Around three-quarters of the suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, where pesticide ingestion is the leading cause. “This report is long overdue,” Rory O’Connor, the leader of the University of Glasgow’s Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory told Bloomberg. “What we need, especially in lower- and middle-income countries, is to encourage politicians and people in positions of power to start developing these strategies.” These strategies should include mental health-promoting policies, reduction of harmful use of alcohol, improved access to health care, and restricted access to methods of suicide, according to WHO.